CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Versa engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Nissan Versa have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Versa | 32 |
| 2010 Versa | 13 |
| 2011 Versa | 6 |
| 2012 Versa | 22 |
| 2013 Versa (this page) | 10 |
| 2014 Versa | 24 |
| 2015 Versa | 12 |
| 2016 Versa | 5 |
| 2017 Versa | 3 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine. This bulletin has been amended. See Amendment History on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2013 Versa describe a pattern of transmission failure that kicks in early and hard. Multiple owners lost power suddenly on freeways—one went from 60 mph to 10 mph in front of a truck; another lost power completely at a busy intersection. These failures hit at 30,000 to 50,000 miles; dealers quoted $4,000 or more for replacement. Nissan refused warranty coverage on at least one vehicle with only 50,000 miles, claiming warranty had expired in February, and delayed or declined to pay for diagnostics.
Engine problems compound the issue. Owners report shaking and rough running during acceleration, stalling unexpectedly while parked or on freeway on-ramps, and uncontrolled surging. One owner had a #3 cylinder misfire that came back even after new coils and plugs, requiring PCM replacement. Another described a loud metallic noise from the top of the engine—like a ball bearing rattling inside—that vanished once warmed up; three master mechanics could not identify the cause.
A fuel pump failed at 47,000 miles. One owner also reported the radiator fan quit, killing AC function. Throughout, owners who brought cars to dealers during recall service found their drivability complaints ignored or met with refusals to diagnose without separate fees.
Same Nissan Versa engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission failure / Loss of power
CVT transmission losing power or failing completely. Owners report abrupt power loss during freeway driving, inability to accelerate, complete stalling, and dealer diagnoses of transmission rebuild/replacement needed.
When: Between 30,000–50,000 miles; one case at 130,000 miles. Several failures occurred shortly after or during recall service visits.
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt loss of power while driving at highway speeds; Vehicle slowing from 60 mph to 10 mph without operator control; Inability to accelerate beyond 20 mph; Uncontrolled acceleration surges to 60 mph; Complete engine shutdown while driving; Car stalling on freeway on-ramps
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission rebuild or replacement quoted at $4,000 or more. One owner reported transmission person confirmed transmission was shot.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report warranty denial despite low mileage (50,000 miles). One owner: warranty expired February 2018. Nissan Consumer Affairs refused to commit to covering diagnostic inspection costs. CVT software upgrade recall mentioned but did not resolve symptoms.
Engine hesitation / Misfire
Engine hesitates, misfires, or loses power during acceleration. One case involved #3 cylinder misfire; coil and spark plug replacement did not resolve the issue; PCM fault eventually identified.
When: 130,000 miles (one documented case); earlier mileages suggest recurring issue pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation at 30 mph before loss of power; #3 cylinder misfire; Rough engine sound; Shaking when accelerating above 40 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Coils and spark plugs replaced initially; PCM replaced or reprogrammed to resolve misfire.
Fuel pump failure
Fuel pump failed, rendering vehicle unable to start after cruise control malfunction.
When: 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control activated independently; Vehicle failed to start; Strong gas smell after repair; Airbag light illuminated; RPM fluctuation between 1500–3500 rpm
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replaced by dealer and independent mechanic diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no recall or warranty action documented.
Unexplained engine noise (top-end/bearing-like)
Loud, metallic noise from top of engine that sounds like a loose ball bearing bouncing inside. Noise disappears once engine warms up. Three master mechanics could not diagnose the cause.
When: Early in vehicle ownership (July 2013, vehicle model year 2013)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud metallic/bearing-like noise from top of engine; Noise present at cold start; Noise disappears after engine warm-up; No visual abnormalities found during inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer kept vehicle overnight for inspection by three master mechanics; no diagnosis or repair offered. Dealer later claimed nothing was wrong.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Engine stalling / Unintended shutdown
Engine stalls or shuts off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes with no warning or alarm. Occurs during parking, freeway on-ramps, and intersections.
When: No specific mileage stated; reported as recurring issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while parked; Unexpected shutdown during freeway driving; Engine shutoff at intersections; Shaking and revving before stall
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report having to repeatedly restart vehicle to maintain motion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Radiator fan failure (AC-related)
Radiator fan stopped working, causing AC to stop blowing cold air.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: AC stopped blowing cold air
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Nissan Versa?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Nissan Versa?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 60,373 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Nissan/Versa.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.